long drive golf is a 21st century professional sport in touch with the
Transcription
long drive golf is a 21st century professional sport in touch with the
NEW SEPT UKG.qxd 28/8/07 13:16 Page 34 UKGOLFER LONG DRIVERS BIG HITTERS! LONG DRIVE GOLF IS A 21ST CENTURY PROFESSIONAL SPORT IN TOUCH WITH THE TIMES. IT IS A FAST PACED, ACTION PACKED, ADRENALIN RUSH SPORT. T he players are some of the longest drivers in the world and use size and strength with athleticism and hand and eye co-ordination in order to achieve awe inspiring distances, often 400+ metres long. Long Drivers of Europe hold the European Long Drive Tour and the RE/MAX European Long Drive Championships every year. The season climax will be the RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship final which is taking place in Amsterdam on September 9th. Here we profile the top players set to drive the furthest this year and be crowned the longest driver in Europe. 34 UKGOLFER SEPTEMBER 2007 NEW SEPT UKG.qxd 28/8/07 13:16 Page 35 UKGOLFER LONG DRIVERS 1. JANOS UOTILA (Current Leader 2007 RE/MAX European Long Drive Order of Merit) Nickname: The Terminator Country: Finland Longest drive in practice: 416 metres Longest drive in competition: 386 metres Occupation: Golf course manager Top tip for long driving: “See the impact, and be relaxed when you kill the ball.” Thoughts on winning this year: “Tottakai, siihen voit luottaa! Of course you can count for that!” A message for UK Golfer readers: “Be there, see us and clear your mind from boring things, we will show you what is the best thing in golf!” SEPTEMBER 2007 UKGOLFER 35 NEW SEPT UKG.qxd 28/8/07 13:16 Page 36 UKGOLFER LONG DRIVERS 2. 2. RICHARD ALLEN Nickname: RocketBall Country: England Occupation: Customer Services Longest drive in practice: 411Yards Longest drive in competition: 385 Yards First realised could drive long: At 14 was hitting a three wood 270 yards off the deck. When 16 could hit a driver 300 plus. Top tip for long driving: “Trust your swing! You cannot maximise something you do not believe in!” Loves about long driving: “The adrenaline and the buzz of doing something that every golfer loves to brag about and that is… unleashing a monster drive!” 4. 3. STEF GRESEL Nickname: The Grizzly Country: The Netherlands Longest drive in practice: 462 yards Longest drive in competition: 402 yards (so far the longest in the 2007 RE/MAX European LD tour) Occupation: PGA Pro Top tip: Get in the groove of hitting the sweetspot and then start speeding up your swing. How he thinks will do this year: “I won the RE/MAX Spanish this year and got second in the RE/MAX Ireland event. However due to an unfortunate accident I broke my wrist so was unable to compete for the last three tournaments.” 36 UKGOLFER SEPTEMBER 2007 4. ADAM STACEY Nickname: Stinger Country: England Longest drive in practice: 400+ yards Longest drive in competition: 432 metres Occupation: PGA Professional Top tip for long driving: “Work on your rhythm. A longer, slower back-swing will enable you to maximise your power down and through the ball.” Thoughts on winning chance: “Every long-driver on the planet thinks they are the best, and I'm afraid I'm no different. Of course I'm going to win!” NEW SEPT UKG.qxd 28/8/07 13:16 Page 37 UKGOLFER LONG DRIVERS 3. 5. PAUL GLAZIER (currently 2nd in 2007 RE/MAX European Long Drive Order of Merit) Nickname: Hammer Time Country: England Longest drive in practice: 450 yards Longest drive in competition: 387 yards Occupation: Sport Scientist Top tip for long driving: “Tee the ball high and attack it from the inside” Thoughts on winning this year: “I tasted victory in Italy earlier in the season and want more. To be crowned RE/MAX European Long Drive Champion would be awesome in my first full year of competition” A message for UK Golfer readers: “This is going to be the best show of power golf you will see. Don't miss it!” 5. 6. DAN KONYK Nickname: The Ukranian Country: UK Longest drive in practice: 476yds Longest drive in competition: 428yds First realised could drive long: “When I knocked it on a 412yd par 4 aged 18 Other occupation: PGA Professional Tip for long driving: “Staying flexible is the key so you don’t need to do too much weight work.” Thoughts on winning this year: “Yes of course I’m going to win, I’m 100% confident in my ability. You have to be.” Message for UK Golfer readers: “I need a sponsor!” 6. 7. 7. MIKAEL LINDBLOM Nickname: My friends call me Mike. Country: Sweden, Stockholm Age: 28 Longest drive in practice: 505 metres with a big, big helping wind. Longest drive in competition: 419 metres. RE/MAX European final in Dublin 2005. Occupation: Works at an advertising agency. Top tip for long driving: “Release! And start your swing in your legs, it´s impossible to get power without strong legs.” Thoughts on winning this year: “My goal is not always to win. My goal is to have fun! My goal this year is to make it to the RE/MAX World final in Mesquite in October. And to do my best there.” 8. JOE MILLER Nickname: The Total Package Country: England Occupation: Fitness Instructor Longest drive in competition: 433 metres (RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship Record) Greatest achievement: Winning the RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship in 2005 Top tip: Build some muscle first Thoughts on winning this year: “No question about it!” Philosophy: “Don't hold back unless you want to lose!” 8. SEPTEMBER 2007 UKGOLFER 37